The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-28
PATTEN AND HIS PRISON
He Runs 1t to Suit Himself, and in a
Way that Displeases the Directors.
he Tells How He Has Managed the Institution
and Improved It's General Condition.
Making 1t Self-Supporting.

Last evening Warden j. B. Patten, of the
southern prison, with his clerk. R. j. Conner,
arrived IL the city from Jeffersonville. Their
business here is to make q settlement with the
Treasurer and Auditor Of State, preliminary to
the report for the year. Mr. Patten in talking
70 Journal reporter last evening concerning
his administration of the affairs of the prison,
said. During tie eight months that / have
been in charge the prison has been largely recr-
ganized. 1t was in very bad snaps to begin
with The old contract with Perrin e. Gaf.
which had been running for fifteen years, ex-
pired last fall. They took out their stock and
machinery, and in doing they ruined the
wogk-shops tore up floors. broke walls knocked
out windows. and destroyed most OF the roofing.
The new contractors then came in with new
machinery, and great deal of work was
necessary to get things in running order again.
It also left large mum Der Of men idle, there be-
Ing long time when half of the men were not
engaged in contract work all This condition
began in December last They got the foundry
runnn g in the course of the winter, but it was
not until June that we get the shops in shape so
that all the men employed. took advan-
tage Of the time the idle to clean the
prison thoroughly and put up some build
ings. The repairs very extensive. We
put on nearly 100, coo square feet of roofing.
In the way of new structures,
put up an eugine-room, cupola-
house for the iron-work, stack for
the enameling work hollow ware and are
just now completing extension 56 40 feet
TO one OF the buildings At the present time
are earning over 500 day, which is than
self.support Last week the earnings averaged
Ais cents per day for each in the prison.
1t requires an earning Of 40 cents to support,
There are $50 men in the prison, but only about
440 available for coDtract work. the others being
sick, decrepit, otherwise incapacitated The
appropriation for the year was $50. 000 OF this
Howard drew $29, 700 for the first four months
of the year. leaving mo $40. 300 for the eight
months remaining. IL addition to the repairs
mentioned / reprinted and white washed the
cell-houses and nut in new bedding throughout,
except blankets"
WHAT was Towards shortage?,
THAT is hard to get at For last year and
four months OF this he left Indebtedness OF
$4,000 or this. SO 600 was pay roll. and the
balance for supplies. You understand that in
debtedness Is not necessarily shortage, though
it may be to some extent OF absolute short
age, there is the convict cash fund of 49, 400
that Is money belonging to the con-
victs Then there is the library fund of
$1,000. which is money paid by citizens
for admission TO the prison. at % cents
each, and is devoted to the maintenance of the
library. These are individual counts. and do
not enter into the settlements with the State in
ordinary reports. So far as we can learn there
is about So 900 deficit If the general fund account
The brick account presents another shortage
but IL 10 unsettled, and is in dispute between
status will never be known unless
they get into court, and bring it out
in that way: Then there was a short
age that did not appear on the books
Craig. the deputy warden. boarded the guards
and supplied provisions from the prison stock;
also COW feed and other minor matters. The
ah-rR - - =
brick account and what does not appear on the
books. 1t shonii Be added that the indebted
edness of $25, 900 l mentioned is subject TO de-
crease There are some bills partially paid for
which no credit appears, and Perrin e. Calf ap-
pear to owe about 50 900, but they claim set-offs
and their account Is SO mixed up that it is
almost impossible to tell ything about it.n
"Have you succeeded in keeping within the
appropriation for the year"
yes. Tie only actual draft the appro-
priation has been Sc, 900 which used in repairs.
Everything else has been paid out of tins earn
ings. In practice, the use OF earnings is equiv
alent to draft on the appropriation, as the
earnings are required TO be paid to the
State The receipts for money expended
applied as quietuses the amount due for earn
that way The appropriation will be ex.
hausted. but not by the expenses of
the last eight months. Howard should in
proportionate rate, have used only $26 666 for
his four months. He used more than SO, 900
aver that amount. Besides that, 1 have made
up over $500 of his shortage on the convict cash
or their terms, or who needed their money for
some purpose. had amounts from a dollar to
. hundred or more coming TO them, and took
the responsibility of paying them. We could
not turn them out penniless, with the State in
debt TO them. There is also what mi ht be con-
sdered addition to the capital stock have
about 81 900 worth of hogs on hand, the pur-
chase money for which stands expense; and
then there is the guards boarding house estab.
lishment with its profits, which also does not
appear in the estimate l think am about
$1,000 inside OF the appropriation, a basis of
actual fact. for my eight months"
"How is the politics OF the institution"
THAT is one thing that / have tried TO get rid
of entirely, but it has been a big undertaking.
for me to begin with and refused to permit it.
Then Governor Gray appointed the prison d.
rectors and they insisted on making appoint
meuts. ] declined. and they said they would
not confirm my appoin tments. l said all right
IL you don't want confirm them let them
frmed them. Ever little bit politician
wants some one discharged or pnt in; but have
refused to discharge any man who appeared
trustworthy and efficient. There were
thirty-sx employed when / began.
II was necessary TO cut this force down. We
have twanty five men now, and OF these nine
teen men who were there when began.
You can judge from that to what extent the
Office has been used for political purposes We
do not have much trouble that
now, it is pretty generally
understood that 1 going to the
place in my own way. We will. of course, make
u better showing next year than this, We shall
time By non employment of men. The m en- are
in good condition and work willingly. The
prison is clean, aud they are we'll fed and COM
fortabIy housed"